Thats interesting !!

Never would have thought to look at a french site... but it makes sense.

They ARE expensive there.. woo...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder my friend.

I've driven five thousand of the most comfortable miles I've ever driven .. road noise etc is really well damped.. almost no windnoise.. Seat adjustment range is fantastic for a small fella like me.. so I've got a lovely driving position and great view of the road.

So I get out of the car after a 200 mile drive feeling fresh and rested..

I'm happy out and can sleep at night cos I don't have a huge carloan..

Lovely...

It sounds like a good secondhand buy. It many need repairs but you got it cheap in the first place. Good luck to both of you Koleos owners.

I was never quite sure why it sold so badly in the UK - possibly Renault's poor image at the time coupled with its being overshadowed by the Qashqai which was of a similar size but much more effectively marketed.

There's now a new model Koleos, again likely to be overshadowed not only by the Qashqai and VW Group competition, but also by its own stablemate the Kadjar. Having seven seats would have given it more of a raison d'etre, but it only has five. D'oh.

As promised, an update on used Renault Koleos ownership

Model: Renault Koleos 2.0dci 173 Privilege, registered May 2008, 1 previous owner

Purchased 15th Sep 2017, 84589 miles, full main dealer service history, with invoices. MOT no advisories. Previous service: March 2017, milleage at service, 79800. (12k/12 month service intervals on this model)

Current mileage 89750 - a commuter car covering 80/20 motorway/urban

Avg mpg, based on fulel tank calculations: 40.7mpg. Run exclusively on Shell V-Power

Positives: Comfortable, extremely well equipped, excellent traction at all times, comfortable, great visibility, split tailgate - where have you been all my life?, thumping BOSE stereo, leather upholstery seems very good quality - better than the leather in my old 120d. Did I say comfortable?

Negatives. A/C compressor is whistling, seems to be getting noisier. Will get it looked at imminent service.......which leads to

Servicing: Visited nearby Renault dealership to a) have a nosey at new Renault Koleos and b) get a quote on servicing (as car is main dealer fsh since new, worth investigating how much this would be)

The results of this visit were laughable

a) Useless salesman. Knew next to nothing about the new Koleos. Just produced the brochure and pointed at the prices. Didnt know which engines came with manual only trans and which came with both auto and manual.

b) Useless after-sales desk. Quoted two prices for major or minor services. They eventually worked out that my car alternates between major and minor. Major costs £299+VAT. They then stipulated that the major service is differentiated by a brake fluid change...which costs another £49+VAT. So the £299 price is meaningless. Eventually admiited that I should come in with my previous service bills to 'work out what needs doing'. Obviously, Renault UK dealers dont have access to a service database of cars which have kept maintenance through main dealers, unlike my wife's Honda FR-V. Also asked me when the belt had last been changed - it's a chain-cam engine. I won't go back there again.

There is a Renault indy nearby, will give them a call instead.

Otherwise, all good so far. Feels like a keeper..

Here's an update for anyone interested: As intimated, I came across a later year of the same model (2014) so decided to upgrade. A family member is buying my old one - how many folk say, in later years, "I wish I had bought my father's car - serviced correctly, reliable and immaculate?"

The newbie is essentially the same, but is white, rather than black, with sunroof x 2, a two-tone light coloured leather interior and a (basic for them, but good) Bose sound system...4WD again since I have a boat to tow.

I'm happy.

Regards to all,

Barry (NZ)